Apartments, duplexes, condos: Machesney Park officials say they must be built to support major developments on the horizon.

Village leaders responding to a recent uproar over a proposed zoning change for several duplex units off Forest Hills Road are reminding residents about planned growth that will bring more families to Machesney Park. A new Meijer superstore is planned for Illinois Route 173 and construction of the 440,000-square-foot Woodward Inc. manufacturing campus is happening in nearby Loves Park.

Debate has been spurred by a subdivision developer’s request to rezone a 2.87-acre undeveloped parcel along Forest Hills Road, north of West Lane Road. The request is to rezone the property from R-1 for single-family homes to R-2 for the development of duplex units.

“We’ve only sold four single-family lots since 2008,” said Tami Veitch, vice president of Hawk’s View subdivision, when speaking to planning officials earlier this month. “We’re looking to do something to show progress. Hopefully, this will give us some type of return.”

Planning officials will review the rezoning request more extensively next month.

Jim and Gayle Ciembronowicz moved into the Hawk’s View about 20 years ago.

“It was just all field — corn and soybeans — that’s it,” Jim Ciembronowicz said. “Right after we started building, they started selling more lots and building single-family homes.”

While other neighbors have threatened to move once the rezoning happens, he doesn’t think he can.

“I really don’t know,” he said. “We’ve been here for such a long time. We like the area. It’s great. It’s fantastic. (My) neighbors are great.”

Steve Bois, executive officer of the Rockford Area Association of Realtors, noted that the Woodward expansion especially will bring more talent into the community, which will call for a greater variety of housing.

“There is a need for a mix,” he said.

Dan Jacobson, the Loves Park public works and development director, said his community is working through similar “growing pains” because of the Woodward construction.

“Folks are looking for places to live,” he said. “The key is to have a variety of housing types available to suit the different needs.”